The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1999-02-23 Town Council MinutesTOWN OF VAILLY W; Routh Frontage Road Vail, Colorado 81657 970-479-2100 FAX 970-479-2157 MEDIA ADVISORY February 24, 1999 Contact: Suzanne Silverthorn, 479-2115 Community information Office VAIL TOWN COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS FOR FEBRUARY 23 Work Session Briefs Council members present: Armour, Arnett, Foley, Ford, Jewett, Kurz, Navas --Buck Allen 20 Year Anniversary The Council recognized Judge Buck Allen for his 20 years of service as Vail's municipal judge. Allen received a check for $2,000, which reflects the town's employee recognition program for 20 year anniversaries. Allen joked that his goal is to be the "Cal Ripkin" of Vail's Municipal Court. --Planning and Environmental Commission Representation on the Design Review Board After a discussion that included mixed opinions, the Council reluctantly directed staff to draft an ordinance that would remove a provision in the Town Code that requires representation by a Planning and Environmental Commission (PEC) member on the Design Review Board. The Council also directed staff to draft legislation that would increase the size of the Design Review Board from 4 members to 5 (to eliminate tie votes). The proposal was originated by PEC member Galen Assland, who said the requirement of four meetings a month (PEC members rotate representation on the DRB quarterly) has become too time consuming, especially for those who are self-employed. The PEC had voted 4-2 to forward the recommendation to Council. During discussion, Councilmembers acknowledged the benefits of having a PEC member on the DRB, but also said they recognized the reality of the time commitment. Sybill Navas wondered if it would be possible to appoint a member who would have time to serve on both boards. That way, the time commitment would be acknowledged up front during the application process. However, other Councilmembers said the time commitment from such a volunteer would be unrealistic. PEC Chairman Greg Moffet had suggested a compromise recommendation that would utilize a PEC member to the DRB on occasions when agenda items overlap between the two boards. While that seemed suitable to Councilman Michael Arnett, the majority of the Council agreed to consider a formal change to the DRB structure as proposed by the PEC. For more information, contact Dominic Mauriello in the Community Development Department at 479-2148. --PEC/DRB Review During a review of Monday's Planning and Environmental Commission meeting, Councilmembers inquired about a work session on proposed amendments to the Public Accommodation Zone District. No votes were taken by the PEC Monday, although various opinions were offered on the proposed increases to the town's current development standards (setbacks, GRFA ratios, site coverage, etc.). Also, it was noted that PEC members were opposed to making any height adjustments within the zone district. Councilmembers asked that a joint work session be scheduled between the two boards to continue the discussions. Also, Councilman Michael Arnett asked for more detailed information regarding the median calculation (more) %Ow RECYCLEDPAPER Add 1/TOV Council Highlights/2-23-99 of approved development standards within Special Development Districts over the last 10 years. The joint work session will be scheduled to coincide with a regularly scheduled PEC meeting. --Eagle County Recreation Authority Housing Program The Council reviewed a proposal for the housing component within the Eagle County Recreation Authority's (Berry Creek 5th) overall land use plan. The proposal calls for 200 housing units on 16 acres; 100 units would be rental, while the remaining 100 units would be sold to owner occupants. All units would be deed restricted. Also, the proposal calls for allocating 75 percent of the housing units to the member entities of the authority based on the percentage of property ownership. In this case, Vail, as a 60 percent owner, would control 45 rental units and 45 for - sale units. The remaining 25 percent of the units would be made available to the public at large. During discussion, housing consultant Andy Knudtsen said a sub -committee of the authority had developed proposed criteria that would include a focus on full-time permanent residents to complement adjacent schools and neighborhoods. In response, Councilman Michael Arnett said attempts to exclude seasonal workers from the housing opportunities would be counter- productive to Vail's needs. Arnett, along with Councilmember Sybill Navas, said they'd prefer exploring the option of master leasing the rental units to Vail businesses or selling some of the units to Vail businesses. Councilman Ludwig Kurz, a member of the authority's sub -committee, reminded the Council that because other partners are involved in the discussions, concessions may be in order to keep the project moving forward with a gain of 200 housing units. Mayor Rob Ford said he'd take the Council's issues and concerns back to the authority for additional discussion. Meanwhile, the Council is scheduled to review an intergovernmental agreement between the recreation authority and the Eagle County School District at its March 2 evening meeting. The agreement transfers certain properties between the two entities which have been called out through a joint planning process. Councilman Michael Jewett has indicated he'll oppose the IGA unless it includes a provision for a conservation easement for portions of the property that have been designated as open space. Town Attorney Tom Moorhead has indicated a conservation easement could be considered by the authority. --Information Update The Council heard from Larry Pardee, Town of Vail street superintendent, regarding the current use of magnesium chloride as a de-icer. Pardee says town crews have cut back to just 3 miles of chemical application along Vail's 32 miles of roadway, down from 4 miles. Although concerned about its environmental impacts, Pardee says the chemical is still believed to be the best and safest product on the market. The effectiveness of mag chloride as a de-icer is well - documented, he said. For example, figures from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) have shown significant reductions in the number of accidents in the Glenwood Canyon when magnesium chloride is used, he said. During the pre-mag chloride years of 1994-96, CDOT used as much as 400 tons of sand per year during the 80-inch snow seasons; which resulted in 20-some accidents per season. But during 1997-98, when mag chloride was introduced, CDOT's use of sand was cut back to 41 tons and the number of accidents last season dropped to just 5, according to Pardee. In response to an earlier comment by Councilman Michael Jewett in which Jewett shared constituent complaints about icy conditions on the frontage roads, Pardee said town crews often voluntarily assist CDOT in clearing the frontage roads; however, the frontage roads are not within Vail's maintenance responsibility. Town Manager Bob McLaurin said discussions with CDOT have been underway for some time to develop an equitable reimbursement system whereby Vail street crews would maintain the frontage roads in exchange for payment by the state. McLaurin said he'd continue to pursue the concept, in addition to asking CDOT to increase its upkeep of the frontage roads. Councilmembers were told yesterday that magnesium chloride is not currently being used by CDOT to treat the frontage roads through Vail. The elected officials yesterday asked that a news release be issued by the town clarifying Vail's use of magnesium chloride, as well as (more) Add 2/TOV Council Highlights/2-23-99 reminding drivers to slow down when conditions are extreme. McLaurin has indicated he's prepared to suspend the use of magnesium chloride in Vail if studies show environmental risks outweighing the use of salt and sand. Councilmembers yesterday agreed to hold Vail's 1999 Fourth of July Parade on Sunday, July 4, as originally planned. The decision followed advisement by Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer that state law would prohibit participation by Colorado high school bands because the event falls on a Sunday. Councilmembers encouraged parade organizers to recruit other bands which wouldn't be impacted by the provision. As in year's past, the Vail fireworks display - will be held the evening of July 4. As an update to an executive session last week in which Councilmembers asked Town Attorney Tom Moorhead to pursue purchase of the town's first "buy -down" affordable housing unit, Moorhead announced the unit is now under contract with closing scheduled for March 1. Details of the purchase will be released on March 1. The town has budgeted $100,000 this year to purchase up to 5 free market housing units. The town would then place a deed restriction on each of the units before reselling them to qualified applicants at a reduced price. The concept is one of several approaches adopted by the Town Council through the Common Ground citizen involvement process. --Council Reports Michael Arnett distributed a lodging tax income analysis and an overview of local marketing district features and benefits as analyzed by a subcommitte of the Vail Valley Marketing Board (VVMB). Arnett, who serves on the subcommittee, asked Councilmembers to review the • information and share their comments with him. As the VVMB contemplates creation of a regional marketing district via a proposed lodging tax from East Vail to Wolcott, Arnett said Avon's participation in the district would be critical to its success. Because Avon already has a lodging tax, the issue is complex. Arnett said a second option might be to limit the lodging tax concept to a 2 percent tax within the Town of Vail boundaries, which would generate an estimated $2.3 million. Sybill Navas reported on her attendance at a Chamber of Commerce meeting in which the proposed regional marketing district was discussed. Navas said the group has suggested funding information services from the proposed lodging tax, as well as marketing. On another subject, Navas said the community facilities steering team had regrouped following last Tuesday's Council meeting and has added clarification to the design team instructions regarding the community hub site that houses Dobson Ice Arena and the Vail Library. The instructions will add a dose of political reality, she said, in that a tear down -rebuild scenario of the two facilities would be extremely unlikely. Navas continued her report by describing a Chamber -sponsored breakfast meeting held earlier in the day that featured a panel of business representatives who described their employee housing programs and initiatives. --Other On a related note, Ludwig Kurz advised that Vail Associates had recently announced a partnership with Vail Valley Medical Center to build an employee housing addition at the Tames property at the base of Beaver Creek. Sybill Navas, in reference to a staff follow-up response to a comment made last week about 1-70 noise, said she wasn't implying that Vail police officers should increase enforcement action on I- 70, but rather the Colorado State Patrol might see fit to do so. Navas had mentioned last week that stepped -up traffic enforcement during the World Alpine Ski Championships had contributed to noise reductions along 1-70. (more) Add 3/TOV Council Highlights/2-23-99 Also, in response to a discussion last week about Council office space and accessibility, the . Council voted 5-1 (Jewett against) to direct staff to designate office space for the exclusive use of Councilmembers to be accessed during regular business hours (8-5, M-F). In voting against the measure, Councilman Michael Jewett noted that his availability as a Councilmember isn't compatible with the town's regular business hours, due to his work schedule. Jewett had advocated office space that would have been accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Kevin Foley had left the meeting prior to the vote. Bob Armour informed his colleagues that proposed state legislation that would have removed sales tax on prepared foods (HB1266) had been postponed indefinitely. Armour also noted the pending discussion on the Eagle County Recreation Authority intergovernmental agreement had not yet been reflected on the Council's upcoming discussion calendar. L�1��Z•1 � iLiiCt1] ��'��L•I�.�i1%�`3 March 2 Work Session Noon Luncheon with Elected Officials from Mammoth Lakes, Calif. Discussion of A -Frame Development Program Discussion of Ordinance No. 3, re: Lionshead Code Amendment Discussion of Ordinance No. 4, re: Lionshead Rezoning March 2 Evening Meeting Ordinance No. 2, Supplemental Appropriations Ordinance No. 3, Lionshead Code Amendment Ordinance No. 4, Lionshead Rezoning Eagle County Recreation Authority Intergovernmental Agreement 40 March 9 Work Session PEC/DRB Review Vail Plaza Hotel Discussion Interview for 3 PEC Members Interview for 1 VVMB Member March 16 Work Session Interview for 2 DRB Members Interview for 3 AIPP Members Senior Citizen Surrey Mailing Discussion of Marriott SDD March 16 Evening Meeting Appointment of 1 VVMB Member Appointment of 3 PEC Members Appointment of 2 DRB Members Appointment of 3 AIPP Members First Reading, Marriott SDD Second Reading, Ordinance 2, Supplemental Appropriation Second Reading, Ordinance 3, Lionshead Code Amendment Second Reading, Ordinance 4, Lionshead Rezoning WORK SESSION MINUTES • Tuesday, February 23, 1998 2:00 P.M. Town of Vail Council Chambers What follows will reflect motions and actions taken by the Vail Town Council at their regular work session on February 23, 1998. All members were present but by the time this motion was taken, Kevin Foley had excused himself. Other. Mike Jewett again made a request for 24n access to an office for Council members. Sybill Navas made a motion to provide Council with an office during business hours only, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, but that the space be reserved exclusively for Council use. The second came from Ludwig Kurz. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 5-1, with Mike Jewett in opposition. • L E